I mean, this character isn’t even playable. What’s the deal? A vocal contingent of Super Smash Bros fans have an obsession. They have wanted one of Metroid‘s prime villains, Ridley, as a playable character for years — long before the latest instalment in the series was even announced. Their campaign has thus far yielded nothing tangible, leading to widespread outcry on these here internets.
So who is Ridley?
Ridley is a dinosaur from our imagination, and when he’s tall he’s what we call a — wait, no, wrong (sometimes) purple dinosaur dragon creature. Ridley is a space pirate from Nintendo’s much-loved Metroid series. He’s main character Samus’ archrival, and he’s appeared in almost every game in the series. He’s also pretty big.
Why are people so adamant about getting him in the game?
Well, I mean, he’s pretty cool, for one — and a legacied Nintendo character to boot. Kinda makes sense that he’d end up on the roster, especially given that Samus is the only Metroid character on there so far. For years — going back to the pre-Super-Smash-Bros-Brawl days — people grumbled for his inclusion, perplexed that he only ever appeared in level backgrounds, cut-scenes, and at best, as a (still non-playable) campaign mode boss.
Tensions boiled to a fever pitch, however, when back in 2008 the now defunct Nintendo Power Magazine asked Super Smash series head Masahiro Sakurai about rumours that Ridley was once considered for a playable spot in Brawl. His (now infamous) response:
“I think that would probably be impossible. [laughs] If we had put our best efforts into it, we may have been able to do it. But he might have been a little slow. Would that have been all right? [laughs].”
Over the years this quote has been twisted into everything from an admission that Ridley could totally be a playable character and the development team just isn’t trying hard enough, to Sakurai chalking the issue up to Ridley’s monstrous size (which he didn’t; he only specifically mentioned speed).
Regardless it made people mad, escalating Ridley’s spot in the big show from occasional, impassioned request to eternal sticking point.
People have even found ways to hack Ridley into previous Smash Bros games.
Is Ridley playable in the new Smash Bros for 3DS/Wii U?
No. At least, not so far. Now that the 3DS version is out in Japan the entire roster’s been revealed, and — wouldn’t you know it? — no sign of Ridley’s handsomely jagged face or gentle 113-toothed smile anywhere.
How are people taking that?
Not well:
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But some are doing constructive things too — for instance, making tributes to Ridley that suggest how he could be included as a playable character in Smash Bros, if Nintendo ever decides to go that route:
Others have made Facebook groups in support of Ridley’s poor, purple plight.
So I take it people are even more upset now?
Bingo. Many are especially outraged because Ridley’s once again stuck on the sidelines while so-called “clone” characters (that is, ones that play a lot like preexisting options) like Dark Pit take up space. Why not make a real new character, these armchair designers argue. Of course, it’s not always that easy, but that doesn’t really mean much when they can’t rampage around as their favourite purple space dragon, devouring all plumbers, Pokemon, and pink puffball men who might stand in their way.
Is there… *dries tears* is there hope for the future?
Maybe! Rumours persist that Ridley will make his way into the newest Smash Bros game later, possibly as some form of DLC or unlockable. The newest edition of the rumour suggests that linking the 3DS and (when it comes out) Wii U versions of Smash Bros will bring new characters into the fold by way of some unknowable connective wizardry.
These EXTREMELY RUMOURED characters VERY ALLEGEDLY include Ridley, the equally mourned Mewtwo, Dixie Kong, and The Chorus Kids from Rhythm Heaven. Again, there is VERY LITTLE ACTUAL EVIDENCE to suggest that this is true.
Not much is substantiated right now. This could just be hopeful fans seeing Ridley everywhere in the same way Bigfoot believers and UFO hunters see their respective quarries in everything from forests to cereal bowls. It could mean absolutely nothing at all.
And yet:
On the upside, Nintendo has finally started to embrace the concept of DLC with games like Mario Kart 8 on Wii U, so we’ll see. Fingers crossed.
Do fans treat any other characters this way?
Yes, although Ridley is arguably the most fervently whispered about. Donkey Kong big bad King K Rool is another banana-cream-pie-in-the-sky hopeful, though. People have been requesting his inclusion for years, and the Internet is littered with art of what his costumes would look like and even potential move sets. Fans also frequently get up in arms about Isaac from handheld fantasy RPG series Golden Sun, Krystal from Star Fox, and — perhaps most obscurely — Geno from Super Mario RPG.
So all-in-all this sort of behaviour isn’t entirely atypical, but fans only really go above and beyond for a select few characters.
Ridley? Ridley Ridley Ridley?
Ridley. Definitely Ridley.
Picture: N3ON from Smash Boards
Comments
20 responses to “Why Super Smash Bros. Players Are So Obsessed With Ridley”
“I mean, this character isn’t even playable. What’s the deal?”
That’s the deal. End of article.
This article didn’t exactly explain why they’re obsessed with Ridley.
Yeah it did, “Samus is the only Metroid character on there so far” and teased appearances ” in level backgrounds, cut-scenes, and at best, as a (still non-playable) campaign mode boss.”.
and?
Okay I’ll spell it out very clearly.
1. People that play Super Smash Bros. also like other Nintendo games such as one called Metroid. Samus, a character from Metroid appears in Super Smash Bros, however she is the only character from Metroid that appears in Super Smash Bros. Generally multiple characters from a series are playable in Super Smash Bros, so fans of boths games wish for the inclusion of another popular character from Metroid known as Ridley.
2. Ridley the aforementioned character from Metroid has appeared in Super Smash Bros however not as a playable character, therefore people would like the character to go from a nonplayable appearance to being a playable character.
That’s not a good reason at all. There are plenty of characters who are alone.
Sonic is by himself. Megaman is by himself. Olimar is by himself. In fact, there are 12 characters who are by themselves (if you count both forms of Samus as 1 and the Miis aren’t counted because there are 3 of them).
But, nobody cares about Sonic.
This is Megamans and Pacmans first appearance.
Name me one other character you could make a playable character from pikmin.
All they’re asking for is one more Metroid character, seeing as fire emblem got like, 12 for some reason..
That’s not good reasoning at all. People ARE asking for characters from those other games, shadow, knuckles, samurai goro, etc.
Why make such an issue about it, people just want a character that’s been a npc in super smash bros since N64.
And rightly so, but considering those games either have a small fanbase due to lack of game exposure (F-Zero) are from third parties (Sonic) whereas Metroid has been on Nintendo consoles since 1986, was a success with the Metroid Prime Trilogy, where Ridley has been a key part of the franchise.
And unlike other suggestions (Echidna who’s similar to Sonic, a racer who’s yet another sword user) Ridley is a Laser-firing, Space-Pirate cyborg dragon. Some much needed diversity.
And for those who argue that he’s too big, well…
http://i.imgur.com/f5brJhH.jpg
Actually he was absent in Smash 64, only in the opening cutscene in Melee and finally was ingame as an NPC in Brawl.
Actually no he wasn’t absent in Smash 64.
http://www.ssbwiki.com/Ridley#In_Super_Smash_Bros.
Ha! I had totally forgot he was that blob floating around. I stand corrected. (Although I wouldn’t go as far to say he was an NPC…)
None of those have been a Nintendo franchise for over 25 years either 🙂 When you look at it objectively, it is incredibly strange. Fire Emblem has had 5 characters (including Roy) now, Star Fox even threw in Wolf last game. While for Mario, Rosalina gets added in. Hell, we even got Palutena for Kid Icarus yet we don’t see Ridley for Metroid? I’m neither for or against, since as long as Link is in I could care less, but you can definitely why some fans are a little miffed.
Haters gonna hate. I get your point though.
Let’s see,
1. He’s a giant, flying space pirate.
2. He’s purple and he screeches at things.
3. He’s a giant, flying space pirate.
I understand reason 2 but I’m not buying reason 1 or 3. Especially reason 1…
Neo Kaiser, I salute your vigour when it comes to posting on kotaku, but sweet jesus you come off as such a humorless, arrogant douche. Maybe take a week off from posting or somesuch.
Is it too late to trade Charizard for Ridley?? I’ll throw in Dark Pit. C’mon Nintendo that’s a great deal!
Yeah, Zero suit samus is cool and all, but we want to see a different character from Samus! It’s not like they aren’t there… Rundas, Ghor, Gandrayda, Ridley, U-Mos, the Hunters from the DS game, etc.
Dark Samus, with her unique movement and phazon moves could be a “Half-Clone” of Samus. They could even introduce a unique mechanic (like they did with Robin) such as a corruption level or Hypermode mechanic to make her more unique and interesting.
We’ll surely see DLC for this. Even Pikmin 3 got it (which was a totally awesome game but I don’t expect sales to have matched this).
I must be one of the few who love Smash Bros and love Metroid but really do not want Ridley as a playable character. Not sure why I don’t, I just don’t.
I love Metroid, but I’m happy to not have Ridley in there. I don’t know if I can quite explain why, but it doesn’t feel right for him to be a playable character.
What about Captain Falcon? He deserves friends way more over Samus.
I like how you wrote this Nathan 🙂